Top Gun: Maverickhas proven to be a huge critical andfinancial success at the box office. Fans of the series have been loving the nostalgic callbacks to the original blockbuster from 1986, as well as discovering how the characters have evolved over the past 36 years.
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As well as the engaging story, the breathtaking aerial sequences have truly blown away viewers with their incredible realism. So what does the gaming industry have to offer gamers who are fans ofTop Gun: Maverick? It’s time to feel the need for speed with this list of games.
8Afterburner
Legendary game designer Yu Suzuki and his team were responsible for some incredibleSegaarcade games in the ’80s and ’90s.Space Harrier,Out Run, andAfterburnerare some examples that helped to make Sega a dominant force in this era.
People who were lucky enough to play the original Sega arcade cabinet version ofAfterburnerin 1987 must have felt like they were starring inTop Gun. The way the cabinet tilted and moved in sync with the player controlling the F14-Tomcat would have been a dream come true for many fans of the movie.
7U.N. Squadron
Flying a mission behind enemy lines with a limited chance of successfully pulling it off is one of the main themes inTop Gun: Maverick. Side-scrolling shoot ‘em upU.N. Squadronfrom Capcom is the perfect way to recreate the feeling of facing a hugely superior force.
Based on theJapanese Manga seriesArea 88,U.N. Squadronfeatures different hotshot pilots and aircraft, as well as some excellent arcade action. The SNES version, in particular, is well worth playing to experience the superb music and nice uses of Mode 7 graphics. It’s worth noting the home computer conversion box art forU.N. Squadronfeatured an image likeness that could be mistaken for Tom Cruise.
6Desert Strike
Although players aren’t flying jets inDesert Strike, some missions involve rescuing downed pilots in this isometric classic. Managing resources is a key component ofDesert Strikeas the player has to keep an eye on their fuel, and how much ammunition they have left for each weapon.
The two sequels,Jungle StrikeandUrban Strike, expanded on the series by allowing the player to pilot different vehicles during the missions. The transition from 16-bit to 32-bit systems didn’t fare as well for the Strike series, withSoviet StrikeandNuclear Strikereceiving mixed reviews. As such, there haven’t been any new entries in this series since 1997.
5Super Hang-On
Tom Cruise speeding on a motorcycle alongside fighter jets is an iconic image fromTop GunandMaverick. There aren’t many better ways to relive this movie experience other than playingSuper Hang-On.
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Super Hang-Onis another game from Sega and Yu Suzuki which featured anelaborate arcade versionthat allowed players to sit on a simulated motorcycle. Several classic Sega arcade games includingOut RunandSuper Hang-Oncan be played inYakuza 0,Yakuza 6, andFist of the North Star: Lost Paradise.
4Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
TheAce Combatseries is arguably the modern-day version of the Sega classicAfterburner. The latest entryAce Combat 7: Skies Unknownbuilds on the success of the seriesfeaturing superb graphics, excellent gameplay, and separate VR missions which are enough to test the toughest pilots.
To tie in with the release of the movie there is now theTop Gun: MaverickDLC for fans to play. This features new planes which appear in the film, emblems, skins, nicknames, and an instrumental version of “Danger Zone”.
3Microsoft Flight Simulator
Fans who favor a more realistic chance to relive theirTop Gun: Maverickfantasies can do so with the free expansion toMicrosoft Flight Simulator. Featuring all-new missions and challenges including landing on a carrier deck, this expansion will push players to the limit as they master the complexities of piloting a F/A-18E Super Hornet.
RELATED:Flight Simulator’s Top Gun: Maverick Update Explained
Microsoft Flight Simulatorand itsTop Gun: Maverickexpansion are free for PC and Xbox gamers who have Game Pass, so now is the perfect chance to take to the skies.
2Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
The original beach volleyball sequence inTop Gunreached legendary cinematic status when it was first witnessed in 1986. The fact thatTop Gun: Maverickrevisited the scene (adding a slight twist) to show a new team of pilots bonding, demonstrates how much it means to the makers of the movie.
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This list wouldn’t be complete without a beach volleyball game, which is whyOlympic Games Tokyo 2020works so well. There are 17other sports to tryinOlympic Games Tokyo 2020, so there is plenty of variety once players have had their beach volleyball fix to match the movie.
1Let’s Sing
Music features heavily inTop GunandTop Gun: Maverick. “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, “Take My Breath Away” from Berlin, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers, and even “Great Balls Of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis are etched into the brains of fans of the series.
These songs have become synonymous with the movies, so theLet’s Singseries is a great way for budding singers to create their own musical memories. Thankfully there is no need tobuy expensive accessoriesas a microphone app can be downloaded for free.
